of ikon mountain



SCP- 3, 1929- s. A. cLEMETsoN 1,726,693

scREw DRIVER CHUCK Filed Aug. 7, 1928 INVENTOR.

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Patented Sept. 3, 1929,..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SELMER A. CLEMETS'GN, OF IRON MOUNTAIN, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE LOCK- LITE COMPANY, OF IRON MOUNTAIN, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION F MICHIGAN.

SCREW-DRIVER CHUCK.

Application' filed August 7, 1928. Serial N'o. 298,034.

This invention relates to chucks tor screwdriving machines and has for its object the provision of chuck of simple construction whereby the screw to be driven will be supported in proper position upon the work and will be held upright While engaged by the screw driver in turning it home. A particular object ot the invention is to provide easily operated means whereby in the event of crowding or' the screws from the magazine 'the screws may be released so that a single screw will be supported in proper position to be engaged by the screw driver.

In the accompanying` drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a chuck embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken tudinally ot the head;

Fig. 3 is a detail end view ot the head;

longi- Fig. 4 is a detail view ot the end of a releasing lever;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one ot the jaws;

`Eig. is an elevation of another form of head,

7 is a detail perspective view or" a cap which is applied to the ends of the head.

In the dra-wing, the reference numeral 1 indicates a body having a central vertical bore, indicated at 2, and carrying on one side a screw supply tube 3 which leads from a magazine. These parts may be of any wellknown construction and the magazine is, of course, supplied with the usual feed-controlling elements whereby the screws are permitted to pass one at a time to the chuck. The screw driver passes downwardly through the bore 2 of the upright body to engage a screw supported below and in alinement with said bore.

The head of my chuck comprises a somewhat elongated base member 4 from which rises centrally a hollow post 5 externally threaded at its upper end whereby it may be engaged b'y a coupling` collar or nut 6 to be secured to the lower end of the body 1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it being noted that the lower end of the body is reduced to provide a nozzle 7 fitting within the hollow post 5 so that a continuous passage for the screws will be provided free of internal projections or shoulders which are apt to catch the screws and interfere with the proper feeding of the same. The hollow post 5 terminates above the lower edge of thebody 4, as shown at 8, and in the inner surfaces of the body 4 are formedgrooves 9 which constitute guides for the screw-holding jaws 10. The jaws 10, as shown clearly in Fig. 5, are substantially or rectangular formation so that they will tit closely but slidably within the slot or open passage 11 formed longitudinally in the bottom ot the body 4 and they are provided at their upper ends with longitudinal flanges 12 engageable in the grooves 9 to slidably support the jaws in an obvious manner. Upon reference to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the grooves 9 open through the ends of the head so that the jaws may be easily inserted in place in engagement with the grooves. To prevent rocking movement o1" the aws, a shim or washer 13 may be fitted f in the grooves 9 above the jaws so as to take up wear and maintain the rectilinear movement of the jaws. In the outer end of each jaw is a socket, indicated at 14, to receive an expansion spring 15 bearing at one end against the end wall of the socket and at its opposite end against an end plate 16 which is secured to the end of the head. The end plate 16 has an outline conforming to the outline of the head and bridges the end of the opening 11 in the head so as to provide an abutment for the respective expansion spring and also prevent the aw being accidentally withdrawn from the head. In the upper edge of the end plate is a notch 17 which registers with the longitudinally eX- tending passage or notch 18 in the end portions ot' the head. Each jaw at its inner end is provided with a lip or shoulder 19 forming a seat for the head of the screw and having a vertical notch or recess 2O formed therethrough to accommodate the shank of the screw, the jaws being pressed toward each other by the springs 15 so that the recesses 2O will encircle the screw, as will be understood. In the top of each jaw is a socket or opening 21 which is adapted to receive the working tongue 22 of a releasing lever 23, the lever being pivotally mounted, as at 24, within the notch 18 of the head over the and the tongue 22 being of an arcuate form whereby it may enter the socket or opening 21 and work easily therein. A releasing lever is provided at each side of the device and each lever engages and operates one ot the jaws.

Normally the jaws are in abutting relation, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, under the iniiuence of the respective springs 15. The screws are fed to the jaws in the usual manner and will drop into the recesses 20 to be supported in upright position with the screw head rest-ing on `the seats 19. The screw driver is lowered through the bore 2 to engage the screw head and turn the saine honie in the usual manner, the springs l5 yielding as the screw advances so that the latter may be driven fully heine in the work. It will rbe noted that the under sides of the jaws are beveled or inclined, as shown at 25, so that they may tit between cleats necessary on the work.

The formlof jaws shown in Figs. l to 5 and previously described are lparticularly adapted for relatively short screws. To accommodate longer screws, the head 26 shown in Fig.

6 'is eniployed, said head havinga central depending extension 27 of `circular form to vfit around and support the screw below the jaws, but otherwise this orin of the invention is the saine in all respects as the lirst described forni. In both fornis, under noriiial operation, the jaws will support the screws in upright 'position and will yield as the screws are driven lionne. Should the feeding elements-oi: the screw magazine for any lreason fail to operate properly so that two screws should happen to reach the chuclr at one time, the releasing levers 23 are rocked upwardly Aso that the tongues 22 thereof will rock outwardly and thereby separate the jaws to perinit one screw to pass out., the other screw being caught by the jaws and held in proper position to 'be engaged by the screw driver. The jaws niove in rectilinear paths so that -they will always be at a. right angle to the working` position of a screw and, con sequently, will engage the screw so as to eliciently maintain it in proper position to be driven honie inthe work.

Having thus described the invention, I claiin:

A chuck for screw drivers comprising a head including spaced side portions, and a central hollow post rising thereiroin to di iect screws between said side portions,` jaws slidably mounted between said side portions and constructed to engage and suppmta screw in upright position, end plates secured to and bridging` the ends ot the side portions of the head, expansion springs seated in the jaws and bearing at their outer ends against said end plates, and releasing levers pivotally inounted in the head above the jaws and having depending tongues operatively engaged in the tops of the jaws.

In testimony whereof I atlix iny signature.

siLMER A. eLEMETsoN'. [L s j 

